SILENT DREADING 
AND “DOING 

<BQDK II 

VAN <DEUSEN 





































































































































































































































































SILENT READING 
AND DOING 

BOOK II 


BY 


CLINTON S. VAN DEUSEN, M.E. 

PROFESSOR OF MANUAL ARTS, 

KENT STATE NORMAL COLLEGE, 
KENT, OHIO 




k 


THE MANUAL ARTS PRESS 

PEORIA, ILLINOIS 















Copyright 1923 

Cunton vS. Van Dsusen 


©Cl A711270 


Printed in the United States of America 


JUL 19 1923 



PREFACE 


nr HIS book contains a continuation of the ma¬ 
terial presented in Book I under the same 
title. As in Book I the aim has been to develop 
in the children the ability to get definite, clear 
ideas from the printed page. These ideas are put 
into concrete form thru construction work. The 
teacher may help the pupil to interpret the mean¬ 
ing of the directions but should not show him what 
to do. 

Book I covers “Paper Box Making,” and 
“Booklet Making.” The work in Book II may be 
given to pupils who have not used Book I, but the 
author believes that in grades below the sixth it is 
better to use Book I first. 

Suggestions for teachers, and lists of equip¬ 
ment and supplies will be found in the pamphlet 
Teachers’ Notes on Silent Reading and Doing. 
This pamphlet may be secured free of charge from 
The Manual Arts Press, Peoria, Ill. 

Clinton S. Van Deusen. 









CONTENTS 


Chapter I. Strawboard Box Making. 7 

Problem 1, Try-Square; Problem 2, Square Box 
without Cover; Problem 3, Square Box with Cover; 
Problem 4, Deep Square Box with Cover; Problem 
5, Paper-Covered Strawboard Box; Problem 6, Rec¬ 
tangular Box without Cover; Problem 7, Rectangular 
Box with Cover; Problem 8, Handkerchief Box; 
Problem 9, Pencil Box; Problem 10, Hair Pin Box; 
Problem 11, Trinket Box; Problem 12, Stamp Box. 

Chapter II. Strawboard Furniture Making 32 

Problem 1, Try-Square; Problem 2, Square Table; 
Problem 3, Taboret; Problem 4, Chair; Problem 5, 
Settee; Problem 6, Bed; Problem 7, Kitchen Cabinet; 
Problem 8, Chiffonier; Problem 9, Desk; Problem 10, 
Play Room; Problem 11, Play House. 








' 


I 


* I 






































CHAPTER I 
Strawboard Box Making 

PROBLEM 1 

TRY-SQUARE 

1. The teacher will give you four pieces of 
strawboard. From these you are to make the try- 
square shown in Fig. 1. 

TRY SQUARE 



Fig. 1 

2. Apply paste to all of one surface of the 
smallest piece and to all of one surface of one of 
the medium-sized pieces except for a distance of 
about 1%" at one end. These two pieces should be 
pasted together with their long edges even and an 
end of one even with an end of the other. Allow 
two or three minutes for this to dry before starting 
the next step. 

3. The longest piece should now be pasted in 
position to form the blade. To do this, apply paste 
to a surface of the longest piece for a distance of 
V/ 2 " from one end, and also to the remainder of the 
same surface of the medium piece to which the 

7 


8 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 

short one was pasted. The end of the longest piece 
should be placed on this end of the medium piece; 
and while placing it, the pieces should be held on 
the large piece of strawboard you use to protect 
the desk as in Fig. 2 so that the outer edge of the 
longest piece is even with one edge of the sheet of 
strawboard and the outer edge of the medium piece 



is even with an adjoining edge. The long outer 
edge of the blade will not be even with the end of 
the medium piece. Hold the pieces in this posi¬ 
tion two or three minutes until the paste dries. 

4. The other medium sized piece should now 
be pasted to the small piece and the end of the 
blade thus completing the beam of the try-square. 
(See Fig. 1.) 

5. This try-square is to be used in making the 
ocher problems in this chapter. Write your name 
on it and show it to your teacher. 






STRAWBOARD BOX MAKING 


9 


PROBLEM 2 

SQUARE BOX, WITHOUT COVER 

1. Lay a piece of strawboard a little more than 
5" wide lengthwise on the top of your desk and 
make a small cross with your pencil about 3" from 
the right end and close to the long edge that is 
farthest from you. This 

marked edge will be called -£ 

the working edge. 

2. Place your try- _ 

square on this piece as in F 3 

Fig. 3 with the inner edge 
of the beam tight against the working edge and 
the blade laying on the strawboard with its outer 

edge about ^4" from the 
right end of the piece. 
Draw a pencil along the 
outer edge of the blade, 
making a light line entirely 
across the piece of strawboard. This line is square 
with the working edge. 

3. Place your rule on the strawboard as in Fig. 
4 with its back edge even with the working edge, 
and its zero end even with the line just drawn, and 
make a dot on the strawboard, even with the 5" 
mark on the rule. 

4. Turn the piece of strawboard around on 
your desk so that the working edge is toward you 















10 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


and place the try-square on it as in Fig. 5 with its 
beam tight against the working edge and slide it 
along until the dot just made is close to the outer 
edge of the blade. Draw a light pencil line along 
the outer edge of the blade, extending entirely 
across the piece and passing thru the dot. 

5. Measure 5" from the working edge along 
each of the two lines drawn and make dots. 

6. By using the back edge of your rule as a 
straight edge connect these dots with a light pencil 
line. 

7. The three lines drawn lay out a 5" square 
which is now to be cut out by using only the knife, 

as follows: The knife 
should be held as you hold 
a pencil with the index 
finger of the hand pressing 
on the back of the blade 
about one inch from the point and the two smallest 
fingers of the same hand should press firmly on 
the surface of the strawboard as the knife is drawn 
toward you. Do not try to cut thru the strawboard 
by going over the line once. It is best not to press 
too hard on the blade but go over each line several 
times to cut thru the strawboard. 

8. On the piece of strawboard that is 5" square, 
measure 1" along opposite edges from each end of 



Fig. 5 






STRAWBOARD BOX MAKING 


11 


I 


another edge and make dots. By using the back 
edge of the rule as a straight edge connect these 
dots. This line is parallel to and 1" from the edge. 
In a similar manner draw lines parallel to and 1" 
from the other three edges. 

9. Score with the knife the entire length of all 
of these four lines by going over them once with 
the knife as if starting to cut thru on these lines. 
This will prepare the straw- 
board for bending later along 
these lines. A little experi- 1 
ence will make clear to you 
how deep it is best to score 
these lines. 

10. Cut out the four small 
squares at the corners of the 

• JdlU. o 

piece. 

11. Fold up the four rectangular parts with the 
scored lines on the outside. The vertical edges at 
the four corners of the box are to be held together 
by sticking gummed paper to the outside. Cut 
four pieces of gummed paper 1%" long. Fold each 

piece lengthwise thru the middle 
with gummed surface outside. 
Moisten one surface of each 
folded strip and apply it to one 
end of a rectangular side as in 
Fig. 6 so that the folded edge is 
even with the end of the rectangle and so that an 
end of the gummed paper is even with a scored line. 

12. When these are dry enough so that they will 
not slip, moisten the other half of each strip and 



Square box, without 
cover 





















12 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


attach it to another rectangle so as to form a corner 
of the box. The part that extends above the sides 
of the box should be cut with scissors along the 
fold and each part is to be folded over a side of the 
box and stuck down inside of the corner. 

13. Write your name and No. 2 on the box and 
show it to your teacher. 



PROBLEM 3 

SQUARE BOX WITH COYER 

1. Lay a piece of strawboard a little more than 
7" wide lengthwise on the top of your desk and 

make a small cross with 
your pencil about 3" from 
the right end and close to 
the long edge that is far- 
FlG * 7 thest from you. This 

marked edge is the working edge. 

2. Place your try-square on this piece as in 
Fig. 7 with the inner edge of the beam tight against 
the working edge and the blade lying flat on the 
strawboard with its outer edge about from the 
right end of the piece. Draw a pencil along the 
outer edge of the blade making a light line en¬ 
tirely across the piece of strawboard. This line is 
square with the working edge. 

3. Place the rule on the strawboard as in Fig. 
8 with its back edge even with the working edge. 







STRAWBOARD BOX MAKING 


13 


its zero end even with the line just drawn and 
make a dot on the strawboard even with the 7" 
mark on the rule. 

4. Turn the piece of strawboard around on 
your desk so that the working edge is toward you 
and place the try-square 
on it as in Fig. 9 with its 
beam tight against the 
working edge and slide it 
along until the dot just 
made is close to the outer edge of the blade. Draw 
a light pencil line along the outer edge of the blade, 
extending entirely across the piece and passing 
thru the dot. 

5. Measure 7" from the working edge along 
each of the two lines drawn and make dots. 

6. By using the back 
edge of your rule as a 
straight edge connect these 

= dots with a light pencil 
line. 

7. The square thus laid 
out should now be cut out with the knife. 

8. Measure and draw lines parallel to and 1 
from each edge of the square. 

9. Score on all of these pencil lines and cut 
out the four small squares at the corners. 

10. Cut four pieces of gummed paper, each 2" 
long, fold up the rectangles with scored lines out- 




Fig. 8 










14 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


side and apply the gummed strips to the corners 
of the box as in Problem 2. 

11. The teacher will give you a square piece of 
strawboard for the cover of this box. 

12. Measure and draw pencil lines parallel to 
and from each edge of the square piece for the 
cover. 

13. Score on all of these pencil lines and cut out 
the four small squares at the corners. 

14. Cut four pieces of gummed paper, each 1" 
long and apply them to the corners of the cover as 
in Problem 2. 

15. Cut a piece of gummed paper about 17" long 
and fold the entire piece lengthwise thru the 
middle with gummed surface outside. By laying 
this strip of gummed paper straight across the 


cover, mark off accurately 
a length equal to the dis¬ 
tance across the cover and 
cut a piece to this length. 
Cut three other pieces to 
this same length. Apply 



The finished box 


two of these gummed strips to opposite upper edges 
of the cover and then apply the others to the re¬ 
maining two edges of the cover. 

16. Write your name and No. 3 on the bottom 
of the box and show it to your teacher. 



STRAWBOARD BOX MAKING 15 

PROBLEM 4 

DEEP SQUARE BOX, WITH COVER 

1. Use for this box a piece of strawboard a 
little more than 7" wide. 

2. Lay out a 7" square by following each step 
as given in the first six paragraphs in Problem 3. 

3. Cut out this square by cutting on the lines. 

4. Measure and draw lines parallel to and 2%" 
from each side of the square. 

5. Score on all of these pencil lines and cut out 
the four squares at the corners. 

6. Cut four pieces of gummed paper, each 3" 
long and apply them to the corners of the box. 

7. The teacher will give you a square piece of 
strawboard for the cover of this box. 

8. Measure and draw pencil lines parallel to 
and %" from each side of the square piece for the 
cover. 

9. Score lines and cut out corner squares. 

10. Cut four pieces of gummed paper, each 1" 
long. 

11. Fold up the rectangular parts of the cover 
and apply a piece of the gummed paper to each 
corner. 

12. Cut a piece of gummed paper about 9" long 
and fold the entire piece lengthwise thru the 
middle with gummed surface outside. By laying 
this strip of gummed paper straight across the top 
of the cover mark off accurately a length equal to 


16 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


the distance across the cover and cut a piece to this 
length. Cut three other pieces to this same length. 
Apply two of these gummed strips to opposite 
upper edges of the cover and then apply the others 
to the remaining two edges of the cover. 

13. Write your name and No. 4 on the bottom of 
the box and show it to your teacher. 

PROBLEM 5 

PAPER-COVERED STRAWBOARD BOX 

1. Use for this box a piece of strawboard a 
little more than 5" wide. 

2. Lay out and cut a piece of strawboard 5" 
square. In doing this, first mark the working 
edge and remember always to use the try-square 
with the inner edge of its beam against this work¬ 
ing edge. It is very important that this method 
become firmly fixed as your habit of work, but it 
will not be referred to again in the remaining prob¬ 
lems of this chapter. 

3. Measure and draw lines parallel to and 1" 
from each edge of the square piece. 

4. Score these lines and cut out corners but do 
not fold up rectangular parts. 

5. Cut four pieces of thin, colored paper 
i y 2 "x 3". 

6. Paste one piece of thin, colored paper on 
each of the four rectangular parts of the straw- 
board piece with a long edge of the paper even with 
the scored side of the rectangle. 


STRAWBOARD BOX MAKING 


17 


7. Fold the paper over the other side of the 
rectangle and paste it to the opposite surface of 
the rectangle. When this is finished write your 
name on the strawboard and hand the piece to the 
teacher to be dried in the press. 

8. The teacher will give you a square piece of 
strawboard for the cover of the box. 

9. Measure and draw lines parallel to and 
from the four edges of the square. 

10. Score these lines and cut out corners as be¬ 
fore but do not fold up the rectangles. 

11. Cut four pieces of thin colored paper 
l"x 3". Paste one of these on each of the four rec¬ 
tangular parts of the strawboard piece with an 
edge of paper even with the scored side of the rec¬ 
tangle and the ends of the piece of paper about the 
same distance from the ends of the rectangle on the 
strawboard. Fold the paper over the other side 
of the rectangle and paste it to the opposite sur¬ 
face. 

12. Cut a piece of thin, colored paper 3"x 3". 
Paste it to the middle square on the piece of straw- 
board so that the edges of the paper are about the 
same distance from the four scored edges of the 
square. When this is finished write your name on 
the strawboard and hand the piece to the teacher 
to be dried in the press. 

13. When the piece for the box is dry, cut four 
pieces of gummed paper, each 1%" long. Fold up 


18 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


the rectangular parts of the box and apply the 
gummed paper to the four corners as before. 

14. When the piece for the cover is dry, cut four 
pieces of gummed paper each 1" long. Fold up the 
rectangles and apply the gummed paper to the 
corners. 

15. Cut a piece of gummed paper about 13" long 
and fold the entire piece lengthwise thru the 
middle with gummed surface outside. By laying 
this strip of gummed paper straight across the 
cover, mark off accurately a length equal to the 
distance across the cover and cut a piece to this 
length. Cut three other pieces to this same length. 
Apply two of these gummed strips to opposite 
upper edges of the cover and then apply the others 
to the other two edges of the cover. 

PROBLEM 6 

RECTANGULAR BOX WITHOUT COVER 

1. Use for this box a piece of strawboard a 
little more than 3%" wide. 

2. Using the try-square as in former problems, 
draw two lines square with the working edge 5%" 
apart, measure 3%" from the working edge on each 
of the two lines and connect these dots thus laying 
out a rectangle 3%"x 5%". 

3. Cut out the rectangular piece thus laid out. 

4. Draw lines parallel to and 1" from each side 
and each end of this piece. 


STRAWBOARD BOX MAKING 


19 


5. Score these lines and cut out the four small 
squares but do not fold up the rectangles. 

6. Cut two pieces of thin colored paper 
iy 2 "x 3 y 2 " and two pieces l%"x 1%". 

7. Paste the two smaller pieces on the smaller 
rectangles and the two larger pieces on the larger 
rectangles with an edge of each piece of paper even 
with the scored side of the rectangle. 

8. Fold the paper over the other side of the 
rectangle and paste it to the op¬ 
posite surface of the rectangle. 

When this is finished write your 
name on the strawboard and hand 
the piece to the teacher to be Rectangular Box 

dried in the press. 

9. When the piece is dry, cut four pieces of 
gummed paper, each 1%" long. Fold up the rec¬ 
tangular parts of the box and apply the gummed 
paper to the corners of the box. 

PROBLEM 7 

RECTANGULAR BOX, WITH COVER 

1. Use for this box a piece of strawboard a 
little more than 5%" wide. 

2. Use the try-square and lay out a rectangle 

5%"x8%". 

3. Cut out the rectangular piece thus laid out. 

4. Draw lines parallel to and 1%" from each 
side and each end of this piece. 



20 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 

5. Score on these lines and cut out the four 
corners but do not fold up the rectangles. 

6. Cut two pieces of thin colored paper 
2"x 2 y<£' and two pieces 2"x 5%". Paste these 
pieces on the rectangular parts of the strawboard 
piece as you did with the last problem. Write your 
name on it and hand it to the teacher to be pressed. 

7. The teacher will give you a rectangular 
piece for the cover. 

8. Measure and draw lines on this piece 
from the sides and ends. Score these lines and cut 
out corners. 

9. Cut four pieces of thin, colored paper, two 
of them l"x 2%", and two of them l"x 5%". Paste 
one of these pieces on each of the four outside rec¬ 
tangular parts of the strawboard piece with a long 
edge of the paper even with the scored edge of the 
rectangle and the ends of the piece of paper equally 
distant from the ends of the rectangle on the straw- 
board. Fold the paper over the other side of the 
rectangle and paste it to the opposite surface. 

10. Cut a piece of thin, colored paper, 
2%"x5%". Paste it to the middle rectangle so 
that the edges of the paper are equally distant 
from the scored edges of the rectangle on the 
strawboard. 

11. Draw two very light pencil lines on the col¬ 
ored paper lengthwise of the middle rectangle, 
each line being from a scored line. 


STRAWBOARD BOX MAKING 


21 


12. Cut a piece of gummed paper 5%" long, 
fold it lengthwise thru the middle and cut it in two 
along the crease formed by folding. This will 
form two narrow pieces of the gummed paper. 

13. Moisten one of them and apply it to the 
colored paper so that its outer edge is even with 
one of the pencil lines just made. Moisten the 
other piece and apply it so that its outer edge is 
even with the other pencil line. 

14. Draw two very light pencil lines crosswise 
of the middle rectangle, each line being %" from 
a scored line. 

15. Cut a piece of gummed paper 2%" long, 
fold it lengthwise thru the middle and cut in two 
along the crease formed by folding. 

16. Moisten these narrow strips of gummed 
paper and apply them so that their outer edges are 
even with the lines just drawn. 

17. Write your name on the strawboard and 
hand it to the teacher to be pressed. 

18. When the piece for the box is dry, cut two 
pieces of gummed paper 2" long, fold them length¬ 
wise thru the middle, cut along crease, and com¬ 
plete the box by folding and applying these four 
narrow pieces to the corners. 

19. When the piece for the cover is dry, cut two 
pieces of gummed paper 1" long, fold them length¬ 
wise thru the middle, cut along crease and apply 
them to the corners of the cover as you did on the 
box. 


22 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


20. Cut a piece of gummed paper about 9" long, 
fold the entire piece lengthwise thru the middle 
and cut along the crease. Fold each of these nar¬ 
row strips lengthwise thru the middle. Lay each 
of these strips lengthwise on the cover, mark off 
accurately on the gummed paper a length equal to 
the length of the cover and cut off a piece to this 
length. In a similar manner cut two other pieces 




Fig. 10 



to a length equal to the distance across the top of 
the cover. Apply the two longer pieces to the 
longer upper edges of the cover, and .the two 
shorter pieces to the shorter upper edges of the 
cover. 

21. This problem suggests one method that may 
be used to decorate such boxes. Narrower strips 
of gummed paper may be secured by again folding 
and cutting such half-width strips as used in this 
problem or strips may be measured and cut to the 
desired width. Several designs are suggested for 
such boxes in Fig. 10 and a resourceful pupil can 
originate others. 





STRAWBOARD BOX MAKING 


2a 


PROBLEM 8 

HANDKERCHIEF BOX 

1. Use for this box a piece of strawboarcl a. 
little more than 7%" wide. 

2. Lay out as you have been doing with the 
try-square and rule a 7%" square and cut it out. 

3. Measure and draw lines parallel to and 1" 
from each edge. 

4. Score lines and cut out corners. 

5. Cut four pieces of thin, colored paper, each 
iy 2 "x 5^" and paste them on the rectangles as you 
have done with the preceding boxes. Write your 
name on it and hand it to the teacher. 

6. The teacher will give you a square piece for 
the cover. 

7. Measure and draw lines parallel to and 
from each edge of the square. Score these lines 
and cut out the four corners. 

8. Cut four pieces of thin, colored paper, each 
l"x 5%" and paste them to the rectangles as you 
have done before. 

9. Cut a piece of thin, colored paper 5%" 
square and paste it to the middle square as you 
have done before. 

10. Lay your rule on the piece in position to 
draw a line on the colored paper joining two diag¬ 
onally opposite corners of the middle square. Do 
not draw the entire line but draw the pencil along 
the edge of the rule so as to make a line not more 
than an inch long as nearly as possible in the middle 
of the square. 


24 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


11. Next lay your rule on in position to draw the 
other diagonal of the square, but use the front edge 
of the rule as the straight edge instead of the back 
edge and slide it along until the line just drawn is 
even with an inch mark. Make a line along the 
front edge of the rule extending each way from 
the line just drawn. 

12. Cut a piece of gummed paper 5" long, fold 
its ends together with gummed surface inside and 
again fold the ends together making the piece four 
layers thick. Measure from this folded end along 
an edge that is not folded a distance equal to the 
width of the gummed paper. Draw a line con¬ 
necting this point with the other end of the fold, 
that you measured from. Cut along this line with 
the scissors. This should give you two triangular 
pieces of gummed paper. 

13. Moisten one of these pieces of gummed 
paper and apply it to the colored paper so that its 
long edge is even with the last line drawn on the 
colored paper and so that the mid-point of this 
edge is on the other line drawn. Moisten the other 
piece and apply it to the colored paper so that its 
long edge is against the long edge of the other 
piece. 

14. Write your name on it and hand it to the 
teacher. 

15. When the piece for the box is dry cut four 
pieces of gummed paper, each long, and apply 
them to the corners. 


STRAWBOARD BOX MAKING 


25 


16. When the piece for the cover is dry cut four 
pieces of gummed paper, each 1" long and apply 
them to the corners. 

17. Cut a piece of gummed paper about 24" 
long, fold it lengthwise thru the middle and cut 
from it four pieces, each piece as long as the dis- 



Fig. 11 


tance across the top of the cover. Apply two of 
these to opposite upper edges of the cover and the 
other two to the remaining upper edges. 

18. This problem suggests another method that 
may be used to decorate such boxes and in Fig. 11 
several other designs for the middle emblem are 
suggested. These and many others may be made 
by the folding and cutting method used in this 
problem. 

PROBLEM 9 

PENCIL BOX 

1. Use for this box a piece of strawboard a 
little more than 4%" wide. . 

2. Lay out and cut a rectangular piece 
4y 2 "x9". 





26 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


3. Measure and draw lines 1" from each side 
and end. Score lines and cut out corners. 

4. Cut two pieces of thin, colored paper 
l%"x 7" and two pieces l%"x 2%" and apply 
them to the rectangles. Write your name on the 
piece and hand it to the teacher. 

5. The teacher will give you a rectangular 
piece for the cover. 

6. Measure and draw lines parallel to and 
from each side and end. Score lines and cut out 
corners. 

7. Cut two pieces of thin, colored paper T'x 7" 
and two pieces l"x 2 y 2 " and apply them to the 
narrow rectangles. 

8. Cut a piece of thin, colored paper 2%"x 7" 
and apply it to the middle rectangle. 

9. Locate the mid-point on each side and end 
of the middle rectangle by using the rule as fol¬ 
lows: Place the front edge of the rule along the 
line to be divided, with the 6" mark on the rule as 
near as you can guess at the middle of the line. 
Note the distance from the 6" mark to each end of 
the line. If these two distances are equal the 6" 
mark is at the mid-point. If the two distances are 
not equal, slide the rule along until they are equal 
and then make a dot at the 6" mark. 

10. Place the rule ready to draw a line joining 
the mid-points of the two sides of the rectangle but 
only draw a line about a half inch long near the 
middle of the rectangle. Also place the rule with 


STRAWBOARD BOX MAKING 


27 


its front edge in line with the two mid-points on 
the ends of the rectangle and slide it along until an 
inch mark is even with the line just drawn. Make 
a line along the edge of the rule extending each 
way from this line. 

11. Cut a piece of gummed paper 2" long, fold 
it lengthwise thru the middle with gummed surface 
inside and then fold its ends together. Measure 
from the folded edge ^4" along the folded end and 
make a dot. Measure from the folded end 
along the edge opposite the folded edge and make 
a dot. Draw a line connecting these dots and cut 
the corner off to this line with the scissors. 

12. Measure from the edge opposite the folded 
edge 14 " along the end opposite the folded end and 
make a dot. Measure from the folded end 
along the folded edge and make a dot. Draw a line 
connecting these dots and cut the corner off to this 
line with the scissors. 

13. Unfold it and again fold it lengthwise thru 
the middle with gummed surface outside. Moisten 
one surface of the folded piece and apply it on the 
colored paper with its folded edge along the last 
line drawn and its mid-point on the other line. 
Allow a little time for it to dry and then moisten 
and stick down the other half. 

14. After the pieces are dry, use four pieces of 
gummed paper 1%" long for putting together the 
box, and four pieces 1" long, and one about 20" 
long for putting together the cover. 


28 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 

15. This problem suggests another method that 
may be used to decorate such boxes, and in Fig. 12, 
several other designs for the middle emblem are 
suggested. These and many others may be made 



by the folding and cutting method used in this 
problem. 


PROBLEM 10 

HAIR PIN BOX 

1 . Use for this box a piece of strawboard a 
little more than 5%" wide. 

2 . Lay out and cut a piece 5%"x 5%". 

3. Measure and draw lines parallel to and 2" 
from each edge. 

4. Score lines and cut out corner squares. 

5. Cut four pieces of thin, colored paper 
l^'x 2%" and paste them to the rectangles. 








STRAWBOARD BOX MAKING 


29 


6 . Write your name on the piece and hand it 
to the teacher. 

7. The teacher will give you a piece for the 
cover. 

8 . Measure and draw lines parallel to and 3" 
from each edge. 

9 . Score lines and cut out corner squares. 

10 . Cut four pieces of paper l%"x 1%" and a 
piece iy 2 "x l 1 /*/' and paste them to the four rec¬ 
tangles and the middle square. 

11. Either make an original middle emblem or 
select one from Fig. 11 and apply it as in Problem 
8 or Problem 9. 

12. Write your name on the piece and hand it to 
the teacher. 

13. When dry, complete the box by using two 
pieces of gummed paper, each 2%" long for the 
box, and two pieces, each 1%" long, and one 4" 
long for the cover, cutting them down to half width 
before applying them. 

PROBLEM 11 

TRINKET BOX 

1 . Use for this box a piece of strawboard a 
little more than 4%" wide. 

2. Lay out and cut a piece 4%"x 6". 

3. Measure and draw lines parallel to and 1 
from each edge. 

4. Score lines and cut out corner squares. 


30 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 

5. Cut two pieces of paper l%"x 2" and two 
iy 2 "x 3%" and paste them to the four rectangles. 

6. Write your name on the piece and hand it 
to the teacher. The teacher will give you a piece 
for the cover. 

7. Measure and draw lines parallel to and 
2%" from each long edge and 4^4" from each short 
edge. 

8. Score lines and cut out corner squares. 

9. Cut two pieces of paper l"x 3%", two pieces 
l"x 2" and one piece 2"x 3%” and paste them to 
the five rectangles. 

10. Plan and apply such decorations as you 
think best. 

11. Write your name on the piece and hand it 
to the teacher. 

12. When dry, complete the box by using two 
pieces of gummed paper, 1%" long; and complete 
the cover by using two pieces 1" long and one 6" 
long. 

PROBLEM 12 

STAMP BOX 

1. Use for this box strawboard a little more 
than 2%" wide. 

2. Lay out and cut a piece 2^"x 4%". 

3. Measure and draw lines parallel to and y 2 " 
from each edge. 

4. Score lines and cut out corner squares. 

5. Cut two pieces of paper %"x 314 " and two 


STRAWBOARD BOX MAKING 


31 


pieces %"x 1%" and paste them to the four rec¬ 
tangles. 

6. Write your name on the piece and hand it to 
the teacher. 

7. The teacher will give you a piece for the 
cover. 

8. Measure and draw lines parallel to and 2" 
from each long edge and 3%" from each short edge. 

9. Score lines and cut out corner squares. 

10. Cut two pieces of paper 3 /4"x 314 ", two 
%"x 1 y 2 ", and one l%"x and paste them to 
the five rectangles. 

11. Write your name on the piece and hand it 
to the teacher. 

12. When dry, complete the box by using two 
pieces of gummed paper, each %" long; and the 
cover by using two pieces %" long, and one 6" long. 

13. The teacher will give you a piece for the 
partition. 

14. On one surface, measure and draw lines 
parallel to and 1" and 1%" from each end. 

15. Turn piece over and measure and draw lines 
parallel to and 1^4" from each end. 

16. Score all lines on both surfaces and fold 
where scored. 

17. Apply paste to the entire surface that has 
four lines scored on it and paste this partition 
piece to the inside of the bottom of the box. This 
will divide the box into three parts for three dif¬ 
ferent kinds of stamps. 


32 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


CHAPTER II 

Strawboard Furniture Making 

problem 1 

TRY-SQUARE 

1 . This try-square should be made with great 
care as it is to be used in making all the furniture 
and satisfactory results cannot be expected with¬ 
out a well made try-square. 

2. From a piece of strawboard 1%" wide cut 
one piece ll 1 ^" long, two pieces 5%" long and one 
4" long. With these pieces make a try-square as 
explained in Problem 1, Chapter I. 

PROBLEM 2 

SQUARE TABLE 

1 . Lay a piece of strawboard a little more than 
3^" wide lengthwise on the top of your desk and 
make a small cross with your pencil about three 
inches from the right end and close to the long 
edge that is farthest from you. This marked edge 
is called the working edge. 

2. Place your try-square on this piece as in 
Fig. 13, with the inner edge of the beam tight 
against the working edge and the blade lying on the 
strawboard with its outer edge about from the 
right end of the piece. Draw a pencil along the 


STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 33 

outer edge of the blade making a light line entirely 
across the piece of strawboard. This line is square 
with the working edge. 

3. Place your rule on the strawboard as in Fig. 
14, with its back edge even 
with the working edge, and 
its zero end even with the 
line just drawn, and meas¬ 
ure the following distances 
from this line, making small dots along the edge 
of the rule: l/ 2 ", 3", 3%", 4", 6%", 7", 7%", 10", 
10i/ 2 ", 11", 131 / 2 ", and 14". 

4. With the inner edge of the beam of the try- 
square against the working edge, slide it along 

until the outer edge of the 
blade is even with the dot 
farthest to the right, and 
draw a light pencil line en¬ 
tirely across the sheet along the outer edge of the 
blade thru this dot. Con¬ 
tinue by drawing a similar 
line thru the next dot un¬ 
til you have drawn lines 
thru about half of the dots. 

5. Turn the piece around with the working 
edge toward you and draw the other lines by using 
the try-square as in Fig. 15, with the inner edge of 
the beam tight against the working edge. 



Fig. 15 



Fig. 14 
















34 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 

6 . Measure on the two end lines and the middle 
one of the lines just drawn, S 1 /^" from the working 
edge and using the back edge of the rule as a 
straight edge draw a line thru the points just lo¬ 
cated. 

7. The large rectangular piece laid out by the 
three outer lines should now be cut out with a 



knife. The knife should be held as you hold a 
pencil with the index finger of the hand pressing 
on the back of the blade about one inch from the 
point and the two smallest fingers of the same hand 
should press firmly on the surface of the straw- 
board as the knife is drawn toward you. Do not 
try to cut thru the strawboard by going over the 
line once. It is best not to press too hard on the 
blade but go over each line several times to cut 
thru the strawboard. 

8 . Measure and draw lines parallel to and 
2 %" and 3" from the working edge. 

9. Score as indicated by the dash lines in 
Fig. 16—that is, go over these lines once with the 
knife as if starting to cut thru. This will prepare 


























STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


35 


the strawboard for bending, later. Also cut thru 
on the solid lines as indicated in Fig. 16. 

10 . Fold where scored and put gummed paper 
on the outer surfaces of the four legs as follows: 
Cut a piece of gummed paper 13" long and fold it 
lengthwise thru the middle with the gummed sur¬ 
face outside; cut from it four pieces, each 3" long; 
moisten only one surface of a 
folded strip and apply it to the 
part that is to form one half of 
a leg, so that the folded edge is 
even with an edge or the scored 
line that is to form an outer edge The Fimshed Table 
of a leg. Allow this to dry before moistening the 
other surface of the gummed strip, and then apply 
it to the other half of the leg. Apply a thin coat 
of paste to the outer surfaces of the four rectangu¬ 
lar flaps and allow it to dry. 

11. By using the try-square and pencil, as be¬ 
fore, draw two lines, 4%" apart, square with the 
working edge of another piece of strawboard that 
is a little more than 4%" wide. Measure on each 
of these lines 4%" from the working edge and con¬ 
nect these points, thus laying out a square. 

12 . Cut out this square piece with the knife. 
Draw lines parallel to and and 1" from each 
edge of the piece. Apply a thin coat of paste to the 
half-inch strip between these lines and allow it to 
dry. 










36 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


13. When these first coats of paste are dry, ap¬ 
ply another coat over the first on both the under 
surface of the table top and on the flaps that are 
attached to the rails. Turn the part with the legs 
on upside down on the under surface of the table 
top. A book or other weight may be laid on the 
ends of the legs and left until the paste is dry. 


PROBLEM 3 

TABORET 



1. Lay a piece of strawboard a little more than 
wide lengthwise on the top of your desk and 

make a small cross with 
your pencil about three 
inches from the right end 
and close to the long edge 
FlG * 17 that is farthest from you. 

This marked edge is called the working edge. 

2. Place your try-square on this piece as in 
Fig. 17, with the inner edge of the beam tight 
against the working edge and the blade lying on 
the strawboard with its outer edge about y^ r from 
the right end of the piece. Draw a pencil along 
the outer edge of the blade, making a light line en¬ 
tirely across the piece of strawboard. This line is 
square with the working edge. 

3. Place your rule on the strawboard as in Fig. 
18, with its back edge even with the working edge, 







STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


37 


its zero end even with the line just drawn and 
make a dot on the strawboard even with the 7" 
mark on the rule. 

4. Turn the piece of strawboard around on 

your desk so that the working edge is toward you 
and place the try-square 
on it as in Fig. 19, with its 
beam tight against the 
working edge and slide Fig - 18 

it along until the dot just made is close to the outer 
edge of the blade. Draw a light pencil line along 
the outer edge of the blade passing thru the dot. 

5. Measure 7" from the working edge along 
each of the two lines just 
drawn and make dots. By 
using the back edge of 
your rule as a straight 
edge connect these lines 

with a light pencil line. 

6 . Cut out the square piece by usipg the knife. 

7. Measure and draw lines parallel to and 2^" 
from each of the four edges. 

8 . Measure and draw very light lines parallel 
to and 3" from each of the edges. 

9. Four short lines should now be drawn, each 
one parallel to and 2" from an edge and extending 
only between the two lines that are nearest the 
middle. 



Fig. 19 











38 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 

10. The solid lines in Fig. 20 show the edges of 
the piece, and the lines to be cut; and the dash lines 
show the lines to be scored. 



The Taboret 


Fig. 20 


11 . The taboret should now be folded into shape. 
Cut four pieces of gummed paper, each 2long, 
and put them on the outsides of the legs. Also cut 
four pieces of gummed paper 2" long and put them 
on the horizontal edges at the top of the taboret. 


PROBLEM 4 

CHAIR 


1 . Mark the working edge on a piece of straw- 
board a little more than 6" wide, and by using the 
try-square and pencil as in preceding problems, 
lay out a 6" square. 

2. Cut out the square piece by using the knife. 






























STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


39 


3. Draw lines parallel to and 2" from each 
edge of the piece thus dividing the surface into 
nine squares. 

4. Draw lines the entire length of the piece 
parallel to and 1%" and 4%" from the working 
edge. 

5. Using the try-square with the beam against 
the working edge, draw from the working edge to 
the first line, six lines square with the working 
edge. Each of four of these is to be %" from a 
long fine, and each of the other two is to be 
from an edge of the piece. 

6. With the working edge of the piece toward 
you, draw a line square with the working edge only 
within the square at the right of the middle one 
and 14 " from a long line. 

7. With the working edge toward you, draw 
within the upper left-hand square two short lines 
square with the working edge, each of these lines 
extending only between the two lines that are 4" 
and 4%" from the working edge. One of them is 
to be %" from a long line, and the other is to be 

from an edge of the piece. 

8. Draw within the upper middle square two 
lines, square with the working edge, each extend¬ 
ing from the edge opposite the working edge to the 
nearest line. Each of the lines is to be %" from a 
long line. 


40 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


9. The solid lines (see Fig. 21) show edges of 
the piece and the lines to be cut and the dash lines 
show the lines to be scored. 

10 . The chair should now be folded into shape 



lap. 


The Finished Chair 


and four pieces of gummed paper each 2 " long 
should be put on the outsides of the legs. 


PROBLEM 5 

SETTEE 

1 . Mark the working edge on a piece of straw- 
board a little more than 6 %" wide; and by using 
try-square, rule, and knife, lay out and cut a rec¬ 
tangle 6 i/ 2 "x 8 %"- 

2. Using the try-square with the beam against 
the working edge, draw lines square with the work¬ 
ing edge 1 %”? and 2 " from each end. 

3. Draw a line extending only between the two 
middle lines, parallel to and 4" from the working 
edge. 




























STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


41 


4. Draw lines the entire length of the piece, 
parallel to and 1%", 2", and 6" from the working 
edge. 

5. Draw lines parallel to and 5" from the 
working edge extending from each end to the sec¬ 
ond long line. 

6 . Draw two short lines parallel to and 3y 2 " 


x Y 


Fig. 22 

from the working edge, each one extending only be¬ 
tween the first and second lines from an end. 

7. Draw two lines square with the working 
edge, 2 y 2 " from each end, and extending from the 
working edge to the first line. 

8 . Draw two short lines square with the work¬ 
ing edge, each of these lines being 3" from an end 
and extending from the edge opposite the working 
edge to the nearest line. 

9. The solid lines in Fig. 22 show the edges of 
the piece and the lines to be cut. The dash lines 
show the lines to be scored; but the line X-Y is to 


























42 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


be scored in the surface opposite the one in which 
the others are scored. 

10. The settee may now be folded into shape. 
Cut two pieces of gummed paper 2" long and put 
them on the outer surfaces of the front legs. 

PROBLEM 6 

BED 

1. Use for the head board a piece a little more 
than 414 " wide. Lay out and cut it 4^4"x 5". 



2. Draw a line parallel to and 1%" from the 
working edge. Draw lines square with the work¬ 
ing edge, from each end and extending from 
the working edge to the line just drawn. 

3. Draw a line parallel to and from the 
edge opposite the working edge. Draw short lines 
square with the working edge, 1" from each end 
and extending from the edge opposite the working 
edge to the line just drawn. 

4. Use for the foot board a piece a little more 
than 3%" wide. Lay out and cut it 3%"x 5". 








STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


43 


5. Lay out the foot board by following the di¬ 
rections given above for laying out the head board. 
Cut out the head and foot boards as shown in 
Fig. 23. 

6 . Use for the middle part of the bed a piece a 
little more than 6" wide and cut it 6"x 8". 

7. Draw lines parallel to and from all 
edges. Score these lines, cut out the corner 
squares, fold up the rectangles and apply gummed 
paper, thus forming a box. Apply a thin coat of 


Fig. 24 

paste to the outer surfaces of the sides and ends of 
this box and lay it away to dry. 

8 . Use for the side pieces of the bed a piece a 
little more than 2%" wide and cut out two pieces 
2%"x 7". On each piece draw a line parallel to 
and 1 from the working edge. Draw two lines 
square with the working edge extending from this 
line to the working edge, each line being from 
an end. Cut out the side pieces as shown in 
Fig. 24. 

9. The sides of the bed should now be pasted 
to the inverted box so that the long edges of the 
sides of the bed are even with the upper surface of 
the inverted box. 








44 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 

10. The head and foot boards should now be 
pasted to the ends of the inverted box and gummed 
paper should be put on at each corner of the bed. 
In doing this, cut the gummed paper as long as the 
vertical edge of head or foot board, fold and apply 
it as tho the side of the bed were the same height, 
then make a horizontal cut in gummed paper even 
with the top of the side piece and fold the upper 
part of the gummed paper against the inside of 
head or foot board. 

PROBLEM 7 

KITCHEN CABINET 
Lower Part 

1 . Use for this problem strawboard a little 
more than 6y 2 " wide. 

2 . Lay out and cut a piece of strawboard 
6 i/ 2 "x 15". 

3. Draw light lines the entire length of the 
piece, parallel to and %" and 3%" from the work¬ 
ing edge. With working edge toward you, draw a 
light line extending across the piece square with 
the working edge and 4%" from the right end. 

4. Draw a light line parallel to and 3%" from 
the working edge, extending from the line just 
drawn to the right end. 

5. Draw light lines square with the working 
edge, extending from the second line from the 


STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 45 

working edge to the edge opposite the working 
edge, 2^4" and 8" from the left end. 

6. Draw light lines square with the working 
edge, extending from the working edge to the sec¬ 
ond line, 2%", and 7%" from the left end. 

7. Draw light lines square with the working 
edge 3", and 7^4" from the left end, extending 
from the working edge to the first line. 

8. Draw with a soft pencil, heavy lines, square 

with the working edge, extending from the work¬ 
ing edge to the second line, 45", and 71,4" 

from the right end and also and 2%" from the 

left end. 

9. Draw heavy lines parallel to, and 11,4" and 
2%" from the working edge, extending between the 
lines that are 14" and 2%" from the left end. 

10. Draw heavy lines parallel to, and l 1 /^" and 
2%" from the working edge, extending between the 
lines that are 5" and from the right end. 

11. Draw heavy lines, extending between the 
lines that are 14" and 4from the right end, 
parallel to and 1", 2", 21,4", and 3" from the work¬ 
ing edge. 

12. Draw heavy lines square with the working 
edge, 214" and 2%" from the right end, extending 
between the lines that are 1" and 2" from the work¬ 
ing edge. 

13. Draw heavy lines square with the working 
edge, 1%", 1%", 3", and 31,4" from the right end, 


46 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


extending between the lines that are 2*4" an( l 3" 
from the working edge. 

14. Cut on the light solid lines and score on the 
dotted lines as shown in Fig. 25. The heavy lines 
are to represent the paneling and drawers. 

15. Fold into form and apply half-inch gummed 
paper to each of the four vertical edges that form 
the legs. 



X 

i 


1 1 

! i 

i 

i i 

i i 


ii ii ... 


yj 

. UJ 




Fig. 25 


16. Apply paste to the half-inch strip above the 
drawers, fold the table top X down on it and place 
a book on it until it dries. 

Upper Part 

17. Lay out and cut for the upper part of the 
cabinet a piece of strawboard 6i4"x 12%". 

18. Draw light lines, extending entirely across 
the piece, parallel to and 1" and 4%" from the 
working edge. With working edge toward you, 
draw light lines, extending entirely across the 
piece, square with the working edge and 1%" and 
6%" from the left end. 



































STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 47 

19. Draw a light line parallel to and 5" from 
the working edge, extending between the lines just 
drawn. 

20. Draw light lines square with the working 
edge, and 5" from the right end and extending 
from the working edge to the line that is 4%" 
from the working edge. 

21. Draw a light line square with the working 
edge, 5*4" from the right end and extending from 
the line that is 4%" from the working edge to the 
edge opposite the working edge. 

22. Draw light lines parallel to and iy 2 " and 3" 
from the working edge, extending between the 
lines that are 1%" and 6^4" from the left end. 

23. Draw with soft pencil heavy lines square 
with the working edge, extending from the work¬ 
ing edge to the line that is 4from the working 
edge, D4", 6%", and 7%" from the left end. 

24. Draw a heavy line parallel to and 4%" 
from the working edge, extending between the 
lines that are 1%'' and 6^' from the left end. 

25. Draw heavy lines square with the working 
edge, extending between the lines that are 3" and 
414 " from the working edge, 1%", 3", 3^4", 4%", 
4%", and 6" from the left end. 

26. Draw heavy lines parallel to and 1%" and 
4" from the working edge, extending between the 
lines that are and 1%" from the left end, and 
also between the lines that are 6%" and 7%" from 
the left end. 


48 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


27. Turn the piece over with the working edge 
still toward you, and draw a light pencil line on 
the opposite surface parallel to and 3" from the 
working edge. 

28. Cut on the light solid lines and score on the 
dash lines as shown in Fig. 26. 

29. Fold it into form, lay it on its back, apply 
paste to the lower, long, half-inch wide rectangle 



1-1 




LILLI 




Fig. 26 


and paste it against the inside of the back even 
with the pencil line. Lay a book on it until it dries. 

30. When dry apply half-inch gummed paper 
to each of the two back vertical edges. 

31. Apply paste to the upper half-inch wide rec¬ 
tangle and paste the top down on it, placing a book 
on it until it dries. 

32. When dry appty paste to the inch wide strip 
at the bottom and paste it against the back of the 
lower part so as to hold this part in position on 
top of the table. 






























STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


49 


PROBLEM 8 

CHIFFONIER 

1. Use for the main part of the chiffonier a 
piece of strawboard a little more than &/%' wide. 
Lay out and cut it 6%"x 13%". 

2. Draw light lines parallel to and 1%", 
4%", 5", and 5%" from the working edge. 

3. With working edge toward you, draw light 
lines square with working edge and 1%", 
13/4", 2", 6%", 63/4", 7", 81/4", and 8%" from the 
right end. 

4. Also draw short lines square with working 
edge 14 " and 4%" from the left end, these lines 
extending from the working edge to the first line. 

5. Draw lines extending between the fourth 
and fifth lines from the right end, parallel to and 
22%", 3%", and 4" from the working edge. 

6. The two rectangles indicated by R, Fig. 27, 
should be intensified with a soft pencil. 

7. Turn the piece over with pencil lines down 
and mark the same working edge on this surface. 

8. Draw light lines parallel to and D4", 2%", 
4", 514", and 6y^ f from the working edge. 

9. With the soft pencil draw two short lines 
square with the working edge and 4%" from 
the right end, extending only between the two lines 
farthest from the working edge. Also intensify 
the two parts of the lines joining the ends of the 
lines just drawn, thus forming an intensified rec¬ 
tangle. 


50 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


10. Turn the piece over, cut and score as indi¬ 
cated in Fig. 27 except that the two rectangles in¬ 
dicated by R’s should not be cut. 



Fig. 27 


Drawer Runs 

11 . Using strawboard more than 1%" wide lay 
out and cut three pieces for the drawer runs 
l 3 /4"x 6". Draw lines parallel to and from 
each end of each piece and also on each piece draw 
a line parallel to and ^4" from the working edge. 
Score these lines and cut out the two corner rec¬ 
tangles on each piece. Fold up the three rec¬ 
tangles on each piece and put gummed paper on 
the two corners thus forming a half box. 

12 . These drawer runs should now be pasted 
within the chiffonier. Paste the long narrow rec¬ 
tangles to the inside of the narrow strips in the 
front of the chiffonier just below the drawer open- 






























STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 51 

ings. Paste the turned-down ends to the inside of 
the ends of the chiffonier. The back of the chif¬ 
fonier may now be folded into place, and strips of 
half-inch gummed paper may be put on each of 
the four corners. 


The Top 

13. Using strawboard a little more than 2%" 
wide, cut out a piece 2%"x 5%" for the top of the 
chiffonier. Draw a line parallel to and from 
the working edge. Also draw lines square with 
working edge from each end and extending 
from the working edge to the line drawn. Score on 
the long line and cut out the two corner rectangles. 
The %" strip should be turned down and pasted 
inside of the back and the strip at the top of the 
front should be bent back and pasted to the under 
surface of the top. 

Drawers 

14. Using strawboard more than 3%" wide, cut 
a piece for the lowest drawer 3%"x 6%". Draw 
lines parallel to and 1%" and 2%" from the work¬ 
ing edge, and also draw lines square with the work¬ 
ing edge a very little more than 1" from each end. 
Score these lines and cut out the four corner rec¬ 
tangles. Cut four pieces of gummed paper 1" long 
and fold them lengthwise thru the middle with 
gummed surface outside. Apply these pieces as at 


52 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


X, Fig. 28, to the ends of the two rectangles that 
are of equal size, on the surface not scored, so that 
the folded edges are even with the edges of the 
strawboard. When thoroly dry, turn up the ends, 
front, and back of the drawer and fasten gummed 



Fig. 28 


paper inside of the front and back of drawer so 
that the end pieces of the drawers will be held be¬ 
hind the drawer front instead of against it. 

15. Try the drawer in the chiffonier. If it fits 
too loose, you either made some mistake in meas¬ 
uring; or where it said “a very little more than 
1 " from each end,” you measured too much. If 
it fits too tight, you probably measured too little. 
If it does not fit well you should try it again. 

16. Using strawboard more than 3%" wide, cut 
a piece for the middle drawer SY^'x 6". Draw 
lines parallel to and 1" and 2%" from working 
edge and also draw lines square with working 
edge a very little more than %" from each end. 
Score these lines and cut out the corners. Cut four 
pieces of gummed paper long and apply them 
to the inside of the drawer as before. 













STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 53 

17. Using strawboard more than 2%" wide, cut 
a piece for the upper drawer 2%"x 5%". Draw 
lines parallel to and %" and 2*4" from working 
edge and also draw lines square with working edge 
a very little more than from each end. Score 
these lines and cut out the corners. Cut four pieces 
of gummed paper long and apply them to the 
inside of the drawer as before. 

18. Cut for drawer pulls six pieces of straw- 
board %"x Draw a line thru the middle of 
each piece parallel to an edge. Score this line and 
paste the half at one side of this scored line against 
the front of a drawer and bend the other half out 
to serve as a handle. Paste the pulls in the middle 
of the height of each drawer front and from 
each end. Allow the paste to dry thoroly before 
using the pulls. 

PROBLEM 9 

DESK 

1 . Use a piece of strawboard more than 9%" 
wide for the main part of the desk and lay out and 
cut it 9%"x9%" with a long edge as working 
edge. 

2. Draw lines on this piece square with the 
working edge 2", 2and 3" from each end. 

3. Draw a line parallel to and 3from the 
working edge. 


54 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


4. With working edge toward you draw lines 
square with working edge 4^4" and 4%" from left 
end. 

5. Draw a line parallel to and 5%" from work¬ 
ing edge, extending from the left end to the third 
line. 

6 . Draw a line parallel to and 6" from the 
working edge, extending from the line that is 2%" 
from an end to the line that is 2from the other 
end. 

7. Draw a line parallel to and 9from the 
working edge, extending from the left end to the 
third line. 

8 . Draw lines parallel to and 3", 

6 %", 8", and 8%" from working edge, extending 
between the lines that are and 2" from the left 
end. 

9. Draw lines parallel to and 1", 2", 2 1 4", 
3^4", 6%", 814", and 8%" from working edge, ex¬ 
tending between the lines that are 3" and 4^4" 
from the left end. 

10. Draw lines parallel to and 2*4", 2%", 3%", 
6^4"? 7", and 7*4" from working edge, extending 
between lines that are 3" and 5" from right end. 

11 . Draw lines parallel to and 214", 2and 
from working edge, extending between lines 

that are and 2" from right end. 

12 . Draw a line square with working edge 4" 
from right end, extending between the lines that 
are 3%" and 6" from the working edge. 


STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 55 

13. The dotted lines in Fig. 29 are to be scored, 
the solid lines, except those around the five rec¬ 
tangles marked X , are to be cut; and the solid lines 



around these five rectangles marked X are to be 
intensified with a soft pencil to indicate panels. 

Drawer Runs 

14. For the drawer runs use strawboard more 
than 2%" wide. Cut one piece 2%"x 3", and two 
pieces 2%"x 2%". Draw lines parallel to and 14 " 
from each end of each piece. Also draw a line 
parallel to and 14 " from a long edge of each piece. 
Score these lines, cut out corner squares, and apply 
gummed paper to the two corners of each piece. 
Paste these runs in position, as you did with the 
































56 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


chiffonier, when folding the main part to form 
the desk. 

15. Six pieces of gummed paper should be cut 
SYz" long and folded lengthwise thru the middle 
with gummed surface outside. Apply them on the 
four corner legs as you have done in other prob¬ 
lems. For the back middle leg the paper should be 
cut away on one side of the fold for a distance of 
1 ^4" from the upper end, and for the front middle 
leg a similar piece is cut away for a distance of 
from the upper end; also a piece is cut out for a 
distance of ^4" along the fold and 1" down from 
the upper end. 

The Top 

16. Use for the top of the desk a piece of straw- 
board more than wide and cut it 3%"x 5%". 

17. Draw lines parallel to and and 1" from 
each edge and apply a thin coat of paste to the 
surface of the four small corner squares formed 
by these lines. 

18. After the first coat of paste is dry, apply 
another coat, and paste it to the main part of the 
desk as you did with the table top. 

Drawers 

19. Use for the shallow drawer, strawboard 
more than 3" wide and cut a piece 3"x 3%". Draw 
lines parallel to and %" and 3" from a 3" edge. 
Also draw lines parallel to and a very little more 


STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


57 


than %" from each of the two longer edges. Score 
these lines and cut out the corners. 

20 . Cut four pieces of gummed paper long 
and fold them lengthwise thru the middle with 
gummed surface outside. Apply these to the ends 
of the two rectangles that are the same size, on the 
surface not scored, so that the folded edges are 
even with the ends of the rectangles. When 
thoroly dry turn up ends, front and back of 
drawer. 

21 . Use for the deeper drawers strawboard 
more than 2%" wide and cut two pieces 2%"x 4". 
Draw lines parallel to and 1" and 3%" from one 
end. Also draw lines parallel to and a very little 
more than %" from each of the two longer edges. 
Score these lines and cut out the corners. Cut four 
pieces of gummed paper long for each drawer 
and apply it as on the shallow drawer. 

22. Drawer pulls may be made for each drawer 
as you made those for the chiffonier. 

PROBLEM 10 

PLAY ROOM 

23. Use for the floor of the room a piece of 
strawboard a little more than 8%" wide. Lay out 
and cut it 8%"x 11". Draw lines parallel to and 
y 2 ” from all edges. Score lines, cut out corner 
squares, apply gummed paper, making it into a 
box. Apply a thin coat of paste to the outer sur- 


58 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


face of one side and both ends of the box and lay 
it aside to dry. 


The Walls 

24. Use for the back and side walls pieces of 
strawboard a little more than 7%" wide. Lay out 
and cut the back wall 7%"x 10", and lay out and 
cut the two side walls 7%"x 7%". 

25. Draw a line on one surface of the back wall 
parallel to and from the working edge. Apply 
a thin coat of paste to this half-inch strip. Cut 
two pieces of gummed paper 7%" long, fold them 
lengthwise thru the middle with gummed surface 
outside, moisten one surface only of these folded 
strips and apply them to the ends on the surface 
opposite the one on which paste was applied. The 
folds should be even with the edges of the straw- 
board. Lay this piece aside to dry. 

26. Draw a line on one surface of one of the side 
walls parallel to and from the working edge, 
one parallel to and from the edge opposite the 
working edge and one parallel to and from the 
right edge. 

27. On this same side wall, draw two lines 
square with the working edge, each line being 2^" 
from an edge of the piece. 

28. Draw lines parallel to and 1 and 5%" 
from the working edge, extending between the 
lines just drawn. 


STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


59 


29. Cut out the large middle rectangle thus 
laid out, making an opening thru this side wall 
for a window. 

30. Draw lines parallel to and from the 
edges of this opening. 

31. Turn the piece over, and draw lines on the 
opposite surface parallel to and from each 
edge of the opening, except the edge nearest the 
working edge. Draw a line parallel to and ^4" 
from this edge of the opening. 

32. Apply a thin coat of paste to these narrow 
strips around this opening and also to the half-inch 
strips along the three edges of this side wall and 
lay it aside to dry. 

Window Frame 

33. Using strawboard a little more than 4" wide 
lay out and cut a piece for an inside window frame 
4"x and a piece for an outside window frame 
4"x 5". 

34. Draw lines parallel to and from the long 
edges of each of these frames. 

35. Draw lines parallel to and 2%", and 
2 %" from one end of each frame, extending be¬ 
tween the lines already drawn. 

36. Draw a line parallel to and from the 
other end of the inside frame, and draw a line 
parallel to and from the other end of the out¬ 
side frame. 

37. Cut out the two rectangular parts thus laid 
out on each frame. This will make the openings in 


60 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


the frames and will leave a sash bar across 
each frame. 

38. Apply a thin coat of paste to an entire sur¬ 
face of each of these frames and allow them to dry. 

39. Cut out a piece of very thin white paper the 
size of the inside frame and paste it smoothly to 
the surface of the inside frame having paste on it. 

40. This inner frame should now be pasted to 
the inner surface (the surface having paste along 
three edges) of the side wall, with the thin white 
paper between the frame and the side wall and 
with the inner edges of the frame even with the 
edges of the window opening. 

41. The outside frame should be pasted to the 
outer surface of the side wall with its inner edges 
even with the edges of the window opening and the 
end with the narrower strip should be nearer the 
working edge. 

The Door 

42. Draw a line on one surface of the other side 
wall parallel to and from the working edge, 
one parallel to and %" from the edge opposite the 
working edge and one parallel to and from the 
left edge. 

43. Draw two lines square with the working 
edge, each line being 2%" from an edge of the 
piece. 

44. Draw a line parallel to and 5%" from the 
working edge, extending between the two lines just 


STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 61 

drawn. This line forms the upper end of a rec¬ 
tangle which is to be the door opening. 

45. Cut out the rectangle forming the door 
opening. 

46. Turn the piece over and draw lines parallel 
to and from the edges of this opening. Apply 
a thin coat of paste to this half-inch strip and also 
to the half-inch strips that were laid out along 
three edges of the side wall, and lay it aside to dry. 

47. Cut a piece of strawboard 4^'x S 1 /^". Draw 
light lines parallel to and from each of the four 
edges. The large middle rectangle is to be the door 
and the rectangular frame around it is to be the 
door frame. 

48. On the rectangle that is to be the door, draw 
with a soft pencil heavy lines from the two 
long edges. Draw heavy lines, extending between 
the two lines just drawn, parallel to and 21/4", 
2%", and 4%" from one end of the door. These 
lines represent the panelling of the door and the 
wide rail is to be at the bottom of the door. Cut 
thru the strawboard on the two end lines and the 
right side line of this rectangle. The other side 
line of the rectangle is to be scored from the op¬ 
posite surface and to prevent it breaking where 
scored, the unscored surface should be reinforced 
with gummed paper or better yet with gummed 
cloth hinges. 

49. Apply a thin coat of paste to the door frame 


62 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


only, on the surface that was scored along the edge 
of the door, and lay it away to dry. 

50. When dry, the door frame is to be pasted to 
the outside of the side wall with the long inner 
edges of the door frame equally distant from the 
long edges of the opening for the door. 

The Brace 

51. Use for the brace a piece of strawboard a 
little more than 2" wide. Lay out and cut the 
piece for the brace 2"x 11". 

52. Draw a line parallel to and from the 
working edge of the piece for the brace and also 
draw lines parallel to and from each end. 

53. Score on these lines and cut out the two 
corner squares. 

54. Fold up the three rectangles and put 
gummed paper on the two corners thus forming a 
half box. Apply a thin coat of paste to the outer 
surfaces of the two rectangular ends and lay it 
aside to dry. 

Pasting Room Together 

55. Put the room together by applying a second 
coat of paste to the side of the box, which when in¬ 
verted is to be the floor. Also apply a second coat 
of paste to the strip along the long edge of the 
back wall and stick it to the floor. Do not hurry 
this pasting but hold the two pieces together until 
sure they will not slip out of place while pasting 
the next piece. A supply of spring clothes pins is 


STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


63 


convenient for holding the parts together while 
drying. 

56. The side walls are to be pasted to the ends 
of the floor in a similar manner with the working 
edge of each side wall even with the bottom of the 
floor. The wall with the door in is to be the left 
wall. 

57. The vertical edges where the side and back 
walls join should be fastened together with the 
gummed strips. 

58. The brace is to be pasted between the upper 
front corners of the side walls with the long nar¬ 
row rectangle even with the front of the room. 

59. The front and upper edges of the side walls 
should be reinforced by pasting strips of straw- 
board wide to the inside of the side walls, 
bringing the edges of the strips even with the 
edges of the side walls. Thin strips of wood may 
be clamped with spring clothes pins against the 
outside of the side walls, opposite these reinforc¬ 
ing strips, while the paste dries. It is advisable to 
leave these clamps on until the next day so that the 
walls of the room will dry straight. If the side 
walls are not vertical when clamped, a strip of 
wood lCfl/o" long may be placed in a slanting posi¬ 
tion in the front to hold the walls vertical while 
drying. 

The Roof 

60. Use for the roof a piece of strawboard a 
little more than 8" wide. Cut this piece 8"x 16". 


64 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


61. Draw a line square with the working edge 
thru the middle, across one surface and score this 
line. 

62. On the opposite surface of this same piece, 
draw two lines parallel to and %" and 1" from the 
working edge. Apply a thin coat of paste between 
these lines except for a distance of about 1" from 



each end of the piece. Also draw a line on this 
surface parallel to and from the other long 
edge and apply a thin coat of paste to this half¬ 
inch strip except at the ends. Lay this piece away 
to dry. 

63. Use a piece of strawboard a little more than 







STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


65 


8 %" wide for the gables of the roof. Lay out and 
cut a piece 8^"x 8^4". 

64. Draw lines parallel to and from each of 
the four edges and also draw a line joining diag¬ 
onally opposite corners of the piece. 



65. Score and cut as indicated by lines in 
Fig. 30. 

66 . Fold up the rectangular parts and apply 
gummed paper at the corners thus forming two 
half boxes. 






































66 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 

67. Apply a thin coat of paste to the outer sur¬ 
faces of the two rectangles on each gable and allow 
it to dry. Cut two pieces of gummed paper 10" 
long and fold them lengthwise thru the middle with 
the gummed surface outside. Moisten one surface 
of these folded pieces and apply them on the sur¬ 
face scored, along the edges that formed the diag¬ 
onal of the square, so that the folded edge is even 
with the edge of the strawboard. 

68 . The gables should be pasted to the inside of 
the roof. The scored line forms the ridge of the 
roof. The outside of the back gable is to be even 
with the back edge of the roof and the front of the 
front gable is to be a half inch back of the front 
edge of the roof. Do not hurry this pasting. This 
completed roof when dry should be fastened to the 
top of the room with the gummed paper. 

Furniture for Play Room 

69. When you have completed this play room it 
is suggested that you plan and make furniture for 
it. If especially interested you might plan and 
make several different sets of furniture. 

70. First decide whether you will furnish it as 
a living room, bed room, dining room, or kitchen. 
Next measure the main dimensions of the furni¬ 
ture in such a room in your own home noting the 
measurements only to the nearest inch. That is if 
a measurement on a chair is 17%", note it down as 


STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


67 


18" to use in planning your small furniture. For 
each inch measured on the large furniture you 
should use 1/16" in planning your small furniture. 
That is, the measurement 18/16" or 1%" would be 
used on the small chair for the part measured 
17%" on the large chair. If by following this plan 
the width of a part for your small chair figures to 
be less than *4" make that width ^4". Do not try 
to make too complicated furniture but you have 
made the main types of furniture and should be 
able to fit out this play room nicely. Woven or 
paper rugs and curtains may also be made for the 
room. Fig. 31 shows a sketch of the completed 
room. 

PROBLEM 11 

PLAY HOUSE 

1 . This is to be a four-room play house and is 
suggested as a group problem. It may be made 
with more details than here indicated and other 
forms of handwork such as rug weaving and wall 
decoration may be developed around this problem. 
This is left for the resourceful teacher and pupils 
to develop to suit local conditions. 

2. Four floors should be made in the same 
manner and to the same size as in Problem 10 and 
a thin coat of paste should be applied to both ends 
and one side of each. 

3. Two braces should be made in the same' 
manner and the same size as in Problem 10 and a 


68 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 


thin coat of paste should be applied to both ends 
of each brace. 

The Walls 

4. Two side walls and a middle partition 
should be made, each one to be 7%"x 14". On 
each of the side walls, on one surface, and on both 
surfaces of the middle partition, lines should be 
drawn parallel to and %", 7", and 7%" from the 
end that is to be the bottom. A thin coat of paste 
should be applied to the space between the last two 
lines drawn and also to the half-inch strips along 
the end of each piece. 

5. A back wall should be made 14"x20 1 4". 
Three lines should be drawn lengthwise of this 
piece parallel to and %", 7", and 7*4" from a long 
edge. A thin coat of paste should be applied to the 
space between the last two lines drawn and also to 
the half-inch strip along the long edge. Cut two 
pieces of gummed paper 14" long, fold them 
lengthwise thru the middle with gummed surface 
outside, moisten one surface only of these folded 
strips and apply them to the ends of the surface 
opposite the one on which paste was applied. The 
folds should be even with the edges of the straw- 
board. Lay this piece aside to dry. 

Windows and Doors 

6 . Windows may be made in back and side 
walls for each room, and doors may be made in the 


STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


69 


middle partition. These may be made simple as in 
Problem 10, or the arrangement of door panels and 



window lights may be varied; but the design of all 
in the same house should be similar. 


Putting House Together 

7. When putting the house together, apply a 
second coat of paste to all surfaces to be joined; 




















































































70 SILENT READING AND DOING—BOOK II 

use spring clothes pins where possible, and where 
not possible press parts together and hold them 
for at least five minutes. First fasten two floors 
between a side wall and the middle partition. Next 
fasten the same two floors to the back wall attach¬ 
ing the gummed paper on the back to the back 
edge of the side wall. A brace should then be put 
in place between the upper front corners of the 
side wall and middle partition. 

8 . The other two floors should now be pasted 
to the back wall, the middle partition, and other 
side wall; and the gummed paper on the back 
should be attached to the back edge of the side 
wall. The other brace should now be put in place 
between the upper front corners of the middle par¬ 
tition and the other side wall. 

9. Half-inch wide, reinforcing strips of straw- 
board should be applied inside of the upper and 
front edges of the side walls and on both surfaces 
to the upper and front edges of the middle parti¬ 
tion. These edges should be clamped against thin 
pieces of wood until the next day so that they will 
dry straight. 

10 . Cut two pieces for the roof each 8"x 16%". 
Join the ends of these with gummed paper to form 
the ridge. 

11 . Cut a piece for the gables 15i4"x 1514" and 
then proceed as you did in Problem 10 in making 


STRAWBOARD FURNITURE MAKING 


71 


the gables except that the strips of gummed paper 
should be 20" long. 

12. The roof may be put together and attached 
to the house as you did in Problem 10. 

13. Small groups of pupils may be assigned the 
task of furnishing each room, the teacher acting 
' as advisor for each group. Fig. 32 shows a draw¬ 
ing of the play house. 

















































































































































































































































































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